Guess who’s back?

Rich Rodriguez, who left West Virginia University 17 years ago amid fan discontent, returned to cheers and nostalgia at a ceremonial reinduction at the Coliseum in Morgantown.

“It’s great to be home. “Should never have left,” Rodriguez, an upstate native, said to fans, former athletes and university officials. “I am very, very grateful for the opportunity to return home and become your head football coach at West Virginia University.”

While discussing his return, Rodriguez had to pause a few times to sort out his emotions.

Photo Gallery and Video: Rich Rodriguez is introduced as WVU’s 36th head coach

The 61-year-old soccer coach, whose hair is even grayer than when he left in the winter of 2007, faced an incredulous heckler shortly after he began his remarks. While much of the crowd booed the dissenter, Rodriguez rallied by pointing out a rival: “Okay, all the other Pitt fans can leave the building.”

That was one of several references to the University of Pittsburgh, the Backyard Brawl opponent that fought its way to a 13-9 hole in WVU’s perfect 2007 season, ending its national championship hopes that year and Rodriguez previously in A coaching odyssey that took him to Michigan, Arizona and Jacksonville State eventually spiraled back home.

The Mountaineers and Rodriguez could come full circle in a clash with Pitt, now a non-league rival, three games next season on a date circled on the calendar, 9-13.

“It’s the biggest thing we play,” Rodriguez said in response to a reporter’s question about the significance of this game.

Rodriguez told the crowd that the sideline boss will be a different, more self-actualized person. Using the heckler as an example, he suggested that he should now run his business differently.

“You know, when that Pitt fan was cheering right up there, when I was younger I wanted to jump off that podium and talk to him in person,” Rodriguez cheered. “Yeah, I would have seen it if he had a really hard edge. You know what I’m talking about whether he had a fake hard edge or a real hard edge.

“But my older, more mature self would say, Gosh, I’m blessed to have you all here, so I’ll let you all take care of it. But over the course of my career, and especially in the 17th year since I made the mistake of leaving, I have tried to improve myself, not only as a coach but also as a person.”

Preparations for Rodriguez’s return were broadcast nationally on The Pat McAfee Show, which the punter hosted for WVU from 2005 to 2008.

Rodriguez continually praised McAfee and other former players, marveled at the maturity of Adam “Pac Man” Jones, recalled the many times “Runaway Beer Truck” Owen Schmidt broke helmets, and noted with surprise the presence of Avon Cobourne, a star in a line of outstanding running backs in the front row.

“Is that Avon Cobourne in the front row? Avon Cobourne in the front row!” exclaimed Rodriguez.

WVU athletic director Wren Baker spoke before Rodriguez and said the university went through a rigorous selection process before choosing the well-known coach again.

“We reviewed dozens of candidates, conducted more than 15 interviews and narrowed it down – and the candidates wanted this job because of our history, our tradition, our resources, but we heard time and time again that it was up to you, the passionate fans of West Virginia , lay,” Baker said.

The athletic director said the recruiting team is seeking someone who reflects West Virginia’s values: “work ethic, passion, courage and determination that make us Mountain Climbers.”

Ultimately, Rodriguez was the right one, he said.

“We wanted someone entrenched in West Virginia. This is a great place to live and work. It is a privilege to represent Mountaineer Nation and we felt it would be important for our next head coach to understand that. One candidate stood above all others,” he said. “Coach Rodriguez is a winner.”

Mountaineers broadcaster Tony Caridi, who also works for West Virginia MetroNews, gave the event’s opening remarks. He used puns to emphasize the unique situation of Rodriguez’s return.

“It’s back and the future of the Mountaineer program is ahead of us,” Caridi said. “And today Rich returns home.”

As Rodriguez answered the final question of the day, he returned to one final reference to Pitt, the hated rival. He asked fans to help him remember an ill-conceived word that rhymes with Pitt and is often used to indicate swallowing behavior.

“Four letter word. What do we say?” Rodriguez asked. “What? What?”

And the fans responded instinctively and enthusiastically.

“OK,” said the coach, “that’s exactly my opinion.”

Then Caridi did it. “With this in mind, ladies and gentlemen, we have come to a conclusion.”